Rory Franklin

Well, i’m a week and a half into my industrial placement with Merck Sharp and Dohme and can honestly say i’m having a fantastic time. There are around 14 placements (there are a couple of summer placements I don’t really know - i’m here for a year as are most of the placements) spread across various different departments. First day was as awkward as you’d expect, meeting 10 new people (I live with 3 other placement students, so kind of knew them already) in the space of about 30 mins before going off to our individual departments is something i’ve been used to from school (when new 6th form students came into the school) and at uni (freshers week).

The first week was mainly an introduction to the company and the people we are working with. In the IT department (where I work) we had to write a few websites about us, the departments 5-a-side football team and two javascript games (Higher or Lower guessing game and guess the number game). They didn’t really take all that long, and we basically had from tuesday till friday to do them. So there was lots of time where we weren’t doing a huge amount. Luckily there is Photoshop installed on the machines, so I played around on that a lot, and even watched some Photoshop training CD’s. Learnt a few new things, but barely watched any of it. I really want to get hold of those cd’s so i can take another, in depth look at them.

The social life of last week was pretty good too. Whilst at work, there were lots of emails being sent around to the placement students from each other and the remainder of last years students which helped lighten the mood and also organised the big night out on thursday. There are two houses of students living in the area, the house i’m in (4 of us) and another house on the other side of work (6 of them) so we met up a few times at the pub, and our house went out a couple of times when they didn’t make it out.

Thursday night was when everyone came out (it was a few people’s leaving do’s too) and we went to Hertford which is the nearest place to go out properly other than Central London. I had a great time, got to talk to a lot more people I hadn’t really spoken to, and got drunk (within reason, I had work the next day). Friday morning was amusing to say the least. Everyone seemed worse for wear and lots of banter was sent around the emails.

On the weekend, I went back home because I went to a boat party on the Thames (friend of a friend’s party) and had an awesome time. Went to a bar off the strand called B@1 where it was happy hour from 5-7 (buy one cocktail, get one free. cocktails were from £5.90, so it worked out not too bad). Got reasonably sozzled there, then went onto the boat. Had a good laugh, and there was a great fireworks display before we turned back to dock.

Sunday was the World Cup final, so I came back to Broxbourne (where i now live) and had a BBQ with my house and the other local house, then played lots of Pro Evo and finalyl watched the football. Was a good laugh and fun was had!

On Monday we went down to the local sports center and played football with some of the other staff from MSD. They go down every monday and play on one of the astro-turf pitches. That was fantastic, although very tiring as it was quite competetive! I really need to get into shape (about to go for a run actually!).

Last night we saw Pirates of the Caribbean. I wasn’t 100% impressed, but it was still a good film. A tad too long, but entertaining nonetheless.

Tonight is a quiet one. Once i’ve finished my run, showered etc. I’m going to our local pub for a couple of drinks with my housemates and the other local house.

Thats me done for this entry - long, i know. Most people probably won’t care, but i wanted to document it for my own reading even if no-one else read it